Award-winning native photographer mixes artwork with citizen science

Northern Beaches native and award-winning photographer, Peter McGee, loves nothing greater than the serenity, silence and meditative state diving can present, however the cause he takes alongside his digicam is greater than to seize the fascinating world of the ocean. It’s to inspire us to guard the pure world he believes we’re so fortunate to have at our naked, sandy toes.

“If you walk around Manly, you’ll see some species but not much,” he advised Manly Observer.

“But, whenever you dive at Cabbage Tree Bay, in an hour you can see 60 or 70 totally different species of marine life.

“Cabbage Tree Bay is one of the only fully protected marine areas in Sydney, and it’s only 20 hectares. There are other protected marine areas, but people are still allowed to fish there, so they aren’t fully protected like Cabbage Tree, which is just a shining light and evidence of what can happen when we just leave nature alone to thrive.”

Through his images, Peter goals to share his deep love of nature and the ocean and to boost consciousness concerning the significance of conservation. He is concerned in citizen science – the place he supplies his images to numerous scientific shops like scientists who accumulate info on Grey Nurse Sharks, or the UTS fish Lab of their analysis on weedy sea dragons.

Peter has additionally lately received the distinguished 2025 Australian Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year (AGNPOTY) Portfolio class – one thing he known as “making it” and “being in the same league as professional photography”.

“I’m very pleased, to put it mildly,” he defined.

“I’ve been in the competition before, and won in other categories, but to win the Portfolio category is something different as it’s not just based on a single image, but rather six images, which is a lot more challenging.”

Judges referred to his sequence of images as an attractive glimpse into the variety of cephalopod life within the harbour.

“Each animal has been considered in its own right and photographed with different lighting techniques to superb effect. A great representation of what you can find in our waters,” the judges commented.

It’s value noting Peter solely invested in his expertise 12 years in the past when he “plunged a lot of money into a quality underwater camera set up”. He additionally received final 12 months’s Northern Beaches Council’s 2024 Underwater Photo Competition.

If you’re nonetheless making an attempt to determine what cephalopods are, the 4 fundamental varieties are squid, octopus, cuttlefish, and the nautilus. Basically, they’re a species of marine invertebrates identified for his or her intelligence and distinctive “head-foot” physique plan. They are additionally Peter’s favorite species to {photograph}.

“Most fish will keep their distance, but cephalopods will interact with you, especially a cuttlefish or an octopus, if you’re close by, they’ll come out towards you and might even through a tentacle in your direction to feel your glove,” Peter stated.

“They are additionally very clever and curious. They solely dwell for about two years, and as their dad and mom go away earlier than they’re born (the octopus watches their eggs to make sure they aren’t destroyed or eaten), every part they be taught in these two years is from their very own curiosity and intelligence.

“And the cuttlefish are fascinating in the way they can change their colour, shape and texture to fit in with their environment.”

Peter shares his love for all issues ocean by his Facebook Group, Goodviz Photography, the place he posts weekly updates about what’s occurring beneath the ocean.

He additionally runs images workshops at Dive Centre Manly to encourage a brand new technology of ocean-fascinated photographers.

“The overriding message I want people to hear is for them to get out in nature and enjoy it and themselves,” Peter emphasised.

“I think a lot of people are missing out on this opportunity that’s at our doorstep. It’s so important to get out there to see how beautiful nature is, and hopefully it’ll give us more motivation to protect and treasure what we’ve got.”

The Australian Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year (AGNPOTY) celebrates the wealthy and historical pure heritage of the Australasian bioregion – spanning Australia, New Zealand, Antarctica and New Guinea. Owned by the South Australian Museum and produced in partnership with Australian Geographic, the competitors has been working for 22 years and units the usual for photographers on this style.

The AGNPOTY can be held from 25 October 2025 to fifteen February 2026 on the Australian Museum, 1 William St, Darlinghurst with free entry. For extra info, go here.

Follow Peter on Facebook or Instagram, or if you happen to’re beginning your images profession, try his workshops here.

Check out Peter’s successful picture for the Northern Beaches Council’s 2024 Underwater Photo Competition:

Sluggish finale for Beaches’ 2024 Underwater Photo Comp